The second book in the modern-gothic series by Sarah Sparx, aptly named “Echoes of the Cathars”. A very good example of a stand-alone sequel which can be read independently of the preceding book. Dr. Charlotte (Lotty) Harrison is the fraternal twin of Chantal (the protagonist of the first book) but could hardly be more different in personality and appearance. At 32 she is a respected, academically-minded paleo-anthropologist with many years of field experience in exotic places, most recently Australia and Papua New Guinea. In the Australian outback a fateful spider bite nearly killed her and, at the start of the book, she has just spent several weeks with Chantal and her family in Cordes-sur-Ciel, recuperating from the poisoning.
Feeling better, but still weak and prone to migraines, Lotty is getting restless. To escape from the boredom of her enforced inactivity, she accepts a temporary mundane assignment as Research Assistant to an elderly Chevalier, owner of a historic castle and vast lands in the Montagne Noire, a wild and inhospitable region of central southern France. |
Although only 30 minutes by car to Carcassonne and modern civilization, the Chateau Lascote might as well be mired in the Middle Ages; old tales and superstitions still hold sway with the fiercely tradition-bound locals and the iron grasp of the Church is as strong as ever. Even before Lotty arrives at the Chateau, dramas and old mysteries begin to cast a sinister shadow on her stay, and we are plunged full on into a fascinating and fast-moving tale.
Characterization is well done but it takes time for the main players to reveal their full personalities. We have an interesting gender role reversal with the female characters very keen to take control. In one respect Lotty is like her twin: they are both tough-minded, aggressive and difficult to like. I respected her intelligence but found her cold, calculating and manipulative, and borderline dysfunctional in her attitude to relationships. It is a sign of a good writer when a story still intrigues me even though I don't care about the heroine. The male love interest is also introduced as a thoroughly unpleasant young man who has cut himself off from his family after a rift with his father. However, it's easy to see that his toughness is the result of childhood tragedy and, despite a comical propensity for gusty swearing, I actually liked him a lot.
What made this book compelling and vastly enjoyable for me is the solid research into several fascinating themes: a family that can trace its roots back 30 generations to an ancestor who died in 1255; the sciences of geology and paleontology (study of bone specimens) brought to life as part of investigating some old mysteries; DNA profiling; the Cathars, persecuted into extinction by the Catholic Pope at the time of the Albigensian Crusade. I had to read up on some of that history to better appreciate the book, and that is one of the things I love about reading. At its best, a new book opens doors and horizons into something I knew little about.
Although the author started out as a self-confessed Mary Stewart aficionado, proud to take her inspiration from the inventor of the mystery/romance genre, I feel that in this sequel, Sarah Sparx has fully developed her own voice and the similarities have almost disappeared. The author's skill has grown, her descriptions and sense of place are vivid and pertinent. They reminded me of my own visit to Toulouse, Albi and Carcassonne many years ago. We also got lost in a strangely barren, lonely plateau, hemmed in by forbidding mountains within 20 minutes of leaving the outskirts of Carcassonne. It truly was like stepping back into a distant past.
The story is very complex with innumerable twists and turns and many threads that eventually are brought together and resolved, most anyway. Narrated in the third person (but very much from Lotty's viewpoint), events take place in the year 2004. What bothered me a little was how several main characters reacted to startling revelations. Also the behaviours described seemed very extreme and unlikely, in short I really needed to park logic and suspend belief, however, I was drawn in and willing to go along. The conclusion is satisfying although, right to the end, Lotty remains self-centred and unlikeable.
We are told that Sarah Sparx is working on Book 3 of the series, dealing with Beringer's daughter Louise, who was a precocious eleven-year-old in this book. It will be interesting to see what the author has in store for such a delightful character.
Characterization is well done but it takes time for the main players to reveal their full personalities. We have an interesting gender role reversal with the female characters very keen to take control. In one respect Lotty is like her twin: they are both tough-minded, aggressive and difficult to like. I respected her intelligence but found her cold, calculating and manipulative, and borderline dysfunctional in her attitude to relationships. It is a sign of a good writer when a story still intrigues me even though I don't care about the heroine. The male love interest is also introduced as a thoroughly unpleasant young man who has cut himself off from his family after a rift with his father. However, it's easy to see that his toughness is the result of childhood tragedy and, despite a comical propensity for gusty swearing, I actually liked him a lot.
What made this book compelling and vastly enjoyable for me is the solid research into several fascinating themes: a family that can trace its roots back 30 generations to an ancestor who died in 1255; the sciences of geology and paleontology (study of bone specimens) brought to life as part of investigating some old mysteries; DNA profiling; the Cathars, persecuted into extinction by the Catholic Pope at the time of the Albigensian Crusade. I had to read up on some of that history to better appreciate the book, and that is one of the things I love about reading. At its best, a new book opens doors and horizons into something I knew little about.
Although the author started out as a self-confessed Mary Stewart aficionado, proud to take her inspiration from the inventor of the mystery/romance genre, I feel that in this sequel, Sarah Sparx has fully developed her own voice and the similarities have almost disappeared. The author's skill has grown, her descriptions and sense of place are vivid and pertinent. They reminded me of my own visit to Toulouse, Albi and Carcassonne many years ago. We also got lost in a strangely barren, lonely plateau, hemmed in by forbidding mountains within 20 minutes of leaving the outskirts of Carcassonne. It truly was like stepping back into a distant past.
The story is very complex with innumerable twists and turns and many threads that eventually are brought together and resolved, most anyway. Narrated in the third person (but very much from Lotty's viewpoint), events take place in the year 2004. What bothered me a little was how several main characters reacted to startling revelations. Also the behaviours described seemed very extreme and unlikely, in short I really needed to park logic and suspend belief, however, I was drawn in and willing to go along. The conclusion is satisfying although, right to the end, Lotty remains self-centred and unlikeable.
We are told that Sarah Sparx is working on Book 3 of the series, dealing with Beringer's daughter Louise, who was a precocious eleven-year-old in this book. It will be interesting to see what the author has in store for such a delightful character.
The third book of Mary Stewart's Arthurian saga. As in the previous two volumes, Merlin is the narrator, picking up the story where “The Hollow Hills” left off, on the night of the day Arthur was proclaimed High King of Britain at the ripe old age of fourteen. Mary Stewart crafted each book as a stand-alone (although, clearly, they are so much better read in sequence) and so the first few pages contain a recap of the events that preceded the coronation. This makes the first chapter a little awkward but soon the action takes off and we are swept along into another 500 pages of fascinating reconstruction of the days of Arthur, Merlin and Camelot.
As in the earlier books, the familiar ingredients are all here: superb descriptions of places and events, in-depth character development done with honesty but also with a loving acceptance of human nature, terrific sense of pacing, interspersing lots of action with contemplative passages and that quintessential thing that Mary Stewart does so well of educating without patronising. Much as I loved “The Crystal Cave” and “The Hollow Hills”, I feel that this book is even stronger as it deals with Merlin's decline and his ambivalence about the fulfilment of his life mission. |
Despite his stated “contentment” the ending is very sad and it's just as well that we get The Legend and Author's Notes to help us over “kleenex-time”. Quite apart from the quality of the narrative and the elegance with which some truly gruesome scenes are handled, the great achievement of this saga is that it successfully deconstructs the rather unlikely elements of the Arthurian legend and reassembles them into a believable and cohesive version of what really could have happened. In particular, the treatment of Guinevere's abduction is a stroke of genius. Perhaps less convincing is the apprenticeship of Ninian/Nimuë but this is where an acceptance of the magical element is required and, given that so much of the fantastical has been explained in human terms, I was happy to suspend belief and go with the flow.
I have just finished re-reading this book, taking my time over it, which allowed me to find so much that I had missed in my previous page-turning frenzy. This is Stewart's hallmark: her books work on different levels, as fast-moving adventures on first reading but offering satisfying depth on subsequent visits. I can't think of a better quality in a book.
I have just finished re-reading this book, taking my time over it, which allowed me to find so much that I had missed in my previous page-turning frenzy. This is Stewart's hallmark: her books work on different levels, as fast-moving adventures on first reading but offering satisfying depth on subsequent visits. I can't think of a better quality in a book.
I accepted the author's invitation to read and review this book based on the first few pages. The premise appealed to me. A primitive woman is found cringing miserably in the rain and cold of a New York fire escape, scantily dressed in leather tatters. Where does she come from? How did she happen to be clinging to life on the outside of this non-descript Brooklyn building? Mary/Maria Polleti, a kindly housewife whose son has just got married and left home, takes in the poor wretch, gives her some dry clothes and feeds her. Her husband is unsettled by this new arrival, and does not welcome the disruption to his orderly routine, but Mary is determined to continue to host the helpless woman and remains deaf to his suggestion that there are shelters more suited to the woman's needs.
Mary and husband Tony are of Italian descent and the story unfolds within the stereotypical Little Italy neighbourhood the couple inhabit. There is the obligatory catholic priest who hovers like a black bird of prey, seemingly offering comfort and assistance, but in reality butting in and attempting to impose his influence, even when he is clearly told that it is not wanted. There are the nosy neighbours, all fairly well described but heavily cliched. There is also the disturbing, lingering influence of Maria's dead mother, who made her children's lives uncomfortable by taking in strays and homeless people and treating them better than her own family. She was generally considered to be kind and well-intentioned but also certifiably crazy. |
As I make it a point of never including spoilers, I will stop here. Suffice to say that Mary drives the story by escalating her peculiar behaviour towards the stray, whom she names Linda. I must confess that by the 50% point, I was ready to stop reading and put the book aside for a couple of days. I have only ever abandoned a book twice, so I plodded on.
The story is anchored in everyday realism but there is an element of fantasy with the introduction of a character from an unknown, primitive tribe. The intriguing premise is never fully exploited as Linda drifts in and out of the narrative without ever revealing enough personality to justify her presence in the title. Her intelligence is also rather quirky and questionable. My problem with the book is that there are far too many players to make it compelling. Too many threads inexpertly cast out, so that as each chapter jumps from Brooklyn to Los Angeles and from one character to the other, instead of being drawn into the intrigue, I got rather bored. With my attention scattered, I did not care about anybody in particular. Every single character in the story is flawed. Fine, I can buy that, but they all behave not just badly but irrationally. The sense of oppression and imprisonment into a hopeless future that the writer tried so hard to convey does not work because of the warped feminist slant. There are many options that the main characters never explore, options which would be much more likely in real life. Instead, the strange behaviour is used as an excuse to create spurious scenarios. When I, as a reader, ask myself, “Why would he/she do THAT?”, that signals the end of my enjoyment of a story. But my main criticism is that the characterization is weak. I did not like Mary and did not understand her. She has no depth or presence, and her behaviour is callous, manipulative and inconsistent with her stated feelings and beliefs. For all his predictable, unimaginative personality traits, I think my favourite character was Tony, and that's saying it all, really.
I am sorry to be so negative because there is no doubt that Molly Rainier can write, and write very well. She conveys a very strong sense of place in her descriptions of Los Angeles and the New York locales where the events take place, the pool room, the park, apartments and offices, the street life that is such a large part of the neighbourhood. She's just trying too hard and does not have the skill to juggle so many storylines. I'm having trouble rating this book because, frankly, my main reason to read, these days, is evasion. I look to be transported into a more pleasant, or failing that, a more interesting world. I didn't find either here. There is so much wallowing on the subject of death, and the terror of living with a weak heart, for example, as to make for very uneasy reading.
I started reading again in fairness to the author, as I cannot properly review half a book, and because she writes well. Unfortunately, she took the story along even more fanciful and unrealistic lines, while failing to engage my interest or emotions. I remained a skeptical and uninvolved spectator, never once feeling any sympathy for the plight of the characters. In particular, I found her depiction of the workings of the male mind rather naïve and ill-informed.
One positive is that some violent and disturbing themes were handled with enough restraint to make the book suitable for a fairly wide audience. The content remains unpleasant but no attempt is made to capitalize on the sensational aspects. An author with this much writing ability should manage to come up with a more engaging story. I stress that this review reflects my own opinion and reading preferences. I hope to have given enough information for potential readers to make up their own minds as to whether this book would appeal to them.
The story is anchored in everyday realism but there is an element of fantasy with the introduction of a character from an unknown, primitive tribe. The intriguing premise is never fully exploited as Linda drifts in and out of the narrative without ever revealing enough personality to justify her presence in the title. Her intelligence is also rather quirky and questionable. My problem with the book is that there are far too many players to make it compelling. Too many threads inexpertly cast out, so that as each chapter jumps from Brooklyn to Los Angeles and from one character to the other, instead of being drawn into the intrigue, I got rather bored. With my attention scattered, I did not care about anybody in particular. Every single character in the story is flawed. Fine, I can buy that, but they all behave not just badly but irrationally. The sense of oppression and imprisonment into a hopeless future that the writer tried so hard to convey does not work because of the warped feminist slant. There are many options that the main characters never explore, options which would be much more likely in real life. Instead, the strange behaviour is used as an excuse to create spurious scenarios. When I, as a reader, ask myself, “Why would he/she do THAT?”, that signals the end of my enjoyment of a story. But my main criticism is that the characterization is weak. I did not like Mary and did not understand her. She has no depth or presence, and her behaviour is callous, manipulative and inconsistent with her stated feelings and beliefs. For all his predictable, unimaginative personality traits, I think my favourite character was Tony, and that's saying it all, really.
I am sorry to be so negative because there is no doubt that Molly Rainier can write, and write very well. She conveys a very strong sense of place in her descriptions of Los Angeles and the New York locales where the events take place, the pool room, the park, apartments and offices, the street life that is such a large part of the neighbourhood. She's just trying too hard and does not have the skill to juggle so many storylines. I'm having trouble rating this book because, frankly, my main reason to read, these days, is evasion. I look to be transported into a more pleasant, or failing that, a more interesting world. I didn't find either here. There is so much wallowing on the subject of death, and the terror of living with a weak heart, for example, as to make for very uneasy reading.
I started reading again in fairness to the author, as I cannot properly review half a book, and because she writes well. Unfortunately, she took the story along even more fanciful and unrealistic lines, while failing to engage my interest or emotions. I remained a skeptical and uninvolved spectator, never once feeling any sympathy for the plight of the characters. In particular, I found her depiction of the workings of the male mind rather naïve and ill-informed.
One positive is that some violent and disturbing themes were handled with enough restraint to make the book suitable for a fairly wide audience. The content remains unpleasant but no attempt is made to capitalize on the sensational aspects. An author with this much writing ability should manage to come up with a more engaging story. I stress that this review reflects my own opinion and reading preferences. I hope to have given enough information for potential readers to make up their own minds as to whether this book would appeal to them.
This book was proposed to me by the author for review purposes. Grammar and spelling are a bit funky and there are a few statements that caused me to pause and do a double take, but by and large, the message is easily understandable. After some introductory information, the core of the book is organized in daily chapters, each one describing in detail the two cornerstones of the program: yoga exercises and food choices. I believe that by following the daily plan, and striving to integrate the yoga discipline into your daily routine, you will have a very good chance to lose some weight and acquire some valuable and beneficial habits.
The title makes a bold claim, probably because it is trying to compete with a shedload of similarly-titled diet guides. I don't know if one can apply straight math to weight loss, but in theory we need to burn 3,500 more calories than we consume in order to lose a pound of body mass (weight). Not easy to do in one day unless you exercise like an athlete. That's why traditional long-term diet plans set the target at a more easily attainable one pound per week. |
However, having studied the daily diet schedule (no strictly set menus but rather some specific but flexible recommendations), my guess is that the caloric intake is less than 1,000 calories per day, which should result in some impressive weight changes over the short term. The nutritional approach boils down to a somewhat flexible vegetarian-based eating plan which is very similar to what we, in my family, have been following for some thirty years, so I would say that it is definitely safe and sound advice. It might be a big change for some people, so the author wisely advises easing into it gradually.
Since I had to take a week off my fitness routine due to a muscle sprain, I have gained some weight that needs to come off. I will give the 10-day plan a try and report on my results. In the meantime, I can recommend this book as a balanced and easy-to-follow guide to improved fitness. I strongly suspect that the yoga exercise will be difficult for me due to general stiffness in my hip joints, but that's exactly the point: they should help me become more flexible! One improvement I would strongly suggest is the inclusion of diagrams illustrating the various yoga poses.
Since I had to take a week off my fitness routine due to a muscle sprain, I have gained some weight that needs to come off. I will give the 10-day plan a try and report on my results. In the meantime, I can recommend this book as a balanced and easy-to-follow guide to improved fitness. I strongly suspect that the yoga exercise will be difficult for me due to general stiffness in my hip joints, but that's exactly the point: they should help me become more flexible! One improvement I would strongly suggest is the inclusion of diagrams illustrating the various yoga poses.
Slim Moran is a feisty British/American heiress living in Paris in the desolation of post-WWII France. She has worked for the Red Cross, reuniting families separated by the war, and subsequently she and her Polish lover open their own agency doing the same work of attempting to locate missing people or investigating their fate. When she is hired to track down the last spy of a batch of twelve sent from the UK to help the French Resistance, Slim steps into dangerous territory as a web of betrayal and double-dealing is revealed.
Even though I knew what to expect from my knowledge of the history of the times, I can't pretend to have enjoyed this book. Reading about the horrors in graphic detail is deeply depressing and, in the absence of a redeeming element, does not make for a pleasant experience. |
The story is written in a pedestrian journalistic style which lacks warmth and any semblance of compassion. I enjoy subtlety and restraint, but what I found here is just a bland and bloodless narrative. Also the constant switching back and forth between war-time 1943 and present-day 1949 becomes choppy and annoying as the episodes in each time frame are often very short, and there is a sense that the story is going nowhere. The narrative is marred by American idioms spoken by British characters and a significant amount of missing or misplaced words, suggesting an insufficient level of editing.
The main protagonists are all callous and hardened by circumstances, and there isn't a lot to like. Even after wading through all the angst, I didn't feel like I cared about any of them. Slim's upbringing has made her unfeeling, and I didn't get any insight into her motivations. She's supposed to be intelligent and street-smart, yet some of her actions are just recklessly stupid. Also the lesbian relationships and behaviours seemed to me extreme and stretching belief. This is apparently based on a real story and, if that is the case, one can only despair at the cruelty of so many individuals. This novel's main problem is that characterization is generally shallow and often contradictory.
I hope to be wrong, but I couldn't shake the impression that atrocious circumstances were simply used for shock effect and to ground the story. Paraphrasing, parts of it read like, “So thousands died in horrific pain. Meanwhile, back at the Ritz ...” I won't say much to avoid spoilers, but most of Slim's detective activities rely on knowing the right people and a lot of lucky coincidences. The ending, to me, was ridiculous and highly disappointing.
The main protagonists are all callous and hardened by circumstances, and there isn't a lot to like. Even after wading through all the angst, I didn't feel like I cared about any of them. Slim's upbringing has made her unfeeling, and I didn't get any insight into her motivations. She's supposed to be intelligent and street-smart, yet some of her actions are just recklessly stupid. Also the lesbian relationships and behaviours seemed to me extreme and stretching belief. This is apparently based on a real story and, if that is the case, one can only despair at the cruelty of so many individuals. This novel's main problem is that characterization is generally shallow and often contradictory.
I hope to be wrong, but I couldn't shake the impression that atrocious circumstances were simply used for shock effect and to ground the story. Paraphrasing, parts of it read like, “So thousands died in horrific pain. Meanwhile, back at the Ritz ...” I won't say much to avoid spoilers, but most of Slim's detective activities rely on knowing the right people and a lot of lucky coincidences. The ending, to me, was ridiculous and highly disappointing.
As a reader I'm fairly open to new books, and I couldn't care less about “genre”. What I hope for in a story is good writing, an involving narrative, characters I can grow to care for, and that unmistakable sense that I enjoyed my time in that world. I found all of that, and more, in this charming story.
I loved the quirky humour and self-deprecating attitude of Lot, the hapless protagonist. Lot is an average sixteen-year-old boy, so unremarkable that he tends to blend into the background. He has honed this invisibility for his own protection, and it is both his shield and his hair shirt. As he struggles to slide through his school life without becoming too much of a target for bullies and sadistic teachers alike, strange things start to happen which entail head-spinning, thunder, and Lot moving between worlds and arriving stark naked on top of his clothes. The wicked humour is a rich flaky pastry wrapped around a meaty filling of human drama because the reason for Lot's peculiarly introverted character is a horrendous tragedy that has blighted his young life and threatens to ruin any hope of his leading a normal existence. This is a story about friendship, trust and unconditional loyalty; an exploration into the nature of courage, altruism and self-sacrifice. |
Pacing is slow at first, because it takes time to establish the ordinariness of Lot's life. When his adventures begin, things get interesting very quickly, and the pace picks up. I loved the original voice, refreshing inventiveness, and delicious use of the language. The story is aimed at teens, but it was a delight for me as it reached unsuspected depths of emotional turmoil and human pathos. I loved the principal characters, the growing supporting cast, and Kaspar, the coolest grandad anyone could ever have. The ending is very open-ended, and it looks like Book 2 is in the works, which is very good news.
The latest look at the love life of Frances, now 39 and no closer to Zen blissfulness than she was when we first shared her psychoanalytical sessions with Dr. Roberts. In the third book in this series, Dermot Davis reveals the root of Frances' ongoing problems and the essential back-stories of a number of supporting characters.
At the end of “The Younger Man”, following an emotionally-charged visit to her childhood home to celebrate her mother's 70th birthday, Frances had decided to leave her now disappointing life in LA to try and recapture some closeness with her mother and sister in the small town ambience of Fairfax, Northern California. She is still fond of Martin but is convinced that they are sexually incompatible, so one more tie is in danger of being severed as she devotes all her energy to the move. She needs a job and a house, but she has the resolve. |
It is said that you can never go back, and Frances finds returning to her roots more stressful and complicated than she ever imagined. Her mother acts, in turns, indifferent and hostile. Her sister is in such a dreadful emotional state that she has began therapy (something she previously despised) and is overwhelmed by the revelations arising out of delving into her psyche. Frances sees herself as the saviour of both her relations; a steady, worldly presence who can comfort and assist. The reality turns out to be quite different and, on top of missing all her friends, the buffeting, upheaval and distance now threaten her recently-improved relations with daughter Janice.
Anyone who enjoyed Dermot Davis' previous books will find a very different brew, with less comedy but a lot more pathos in this sequel, still narrated by Frances herself. Shocking old secrets are revealed, and the seemingly successful lives of quite a few people start to show cracks and fundamental faults. Our heroine is in for a rough ride but her relentless quest for self-knowledge and honesty cannot be stopped and, like a boulder hurtling to the bottom of the slope, Frances plunges in a series of cathartic meetings and events. But at what cost? She has tried to recapture the illusory happiness of her childhood and the journey has almost destroyed her. There are some hilarious (or ironic, depending on your mood) scenes, especially where Frances is all set to help and support some tormented soul but ends up having a meltdown of her own, or when her zeal to be honest compels her to share information which ends up depressing the hapless recipient.
Great pacing and lots of interesting developments keep the narrative fresh and compelling. The main characters are easier to like as we understand them better and recognise something of ourselves in their human frailties. Once again, the story is left somewhat open-ended and I suspect that Davis is not quite finished with Frances, or indeed her intriguing circle of friends and relations. What started out as the light-hearted, irreverent disclosure of a young man's romantic ruminations (Zen and Sex), with its corresponding and often antagonistic twin view from a female standpoint (The Younger Man), has developed into a no-holds-barred exploration of some of humanity's most tragic failings. There is still a goodly amount of self-mocking and affectionate irony, but there is also so much more.
Anyone who enjoyed Dermot Davis' previous books will find a very different brew, with less comedy but a lot more pathos in this sequel, still narrated by Frances herself. Shocking old secrets are revealed, and the seemingly successful lives of quite a few people start to show cracks and fundamental faults. Our heroine is in for a rough ride but her relentless quest for self-knowledge and honesty cannot be stopped and, like a boulder hurtling to the bottom of the slope, Frances plunges in a series of cathartic meetings and events. But at what cost? She has tried to recapture the illusory happiness of her childhood and the journey has almost destroyed her. There are some hilarious (or ironic, depending on your mood) scenes, especially where Frances is all set to help and support some tormented soul but ends up having a meltdown of her own, or when her zeal to be honest compels her to share information which ends up depressing the hapless recipient.
Great pacing and lots of interesting developments keep the narrative fresh and compelling. The main characters are easier to like as we understand them better and recognise something of ourselves in their human frailties. Once again, the story is left somewhat open-ended and I suspect that Davis is not quite finished with Frances, or indeed her intriguing circle of friends and relations. What started out as the light-hearted, irreverent disclosure of a young man's romantic ruminations (Zen and Sex), with its corresponding and often antagonistic twin view from a female standpoint (The Younger Man), has developed into a no-holds-barred exploration of some of humanity's most tragic failings. There is still a goodly amount of self-mocking and affectionate irony, but there is also so much more.
Gripping suspense in the form of a glorious romp through many different worlds. Primarily a contemporary romance, with a strong streak of adventure and thriller undertones. In her late 30's, Cassie is, in the words of one of her many admirers, “scrumptious mature crumpet” inspiring lust, and occasionally love, in anything in trousers she happens to meet, while she herself is caught in the grip of a whirlwind of emotions, mostly negative ones, since the violent death of her charismatic ex-SAS husband.
Jamie Douglas is a fascinating, multi-faceted character with a disturbing secret life that his heartbroken widow is desperate to uncover. Cassie is both aided and impeded in her search for the truth by a smart-ass side-kick in the shape of her younger friend-cum-bodyguard Rhian, and Mac, an ambiguous Bad Guy/Good Guy love interest who was Jamie's best friend. Mac is also a complex, mysterious protagonist whose true nature remains elusive throughout the book, despite his starring role; for me, the sign of a gifted writer. |
Francine Howarth is not afraid to throw everything but the kitchen sink in the melting pot of her yarn and we get to glimpse many different worlds, from the genteel tea on the lawn of the landed gentry to the constant peril of shifting allegiances by CIA operatives, from politically-driven middle eastern professors to eco-warrior New Age travellers, with a touch of Louisiana tough guys and computer-crazy teens sprinkled in for extra spice. Oh, and a glitter-punk rock band setting Glastonbury on fire.
With the action set in 1992, we become very aware of how much technology has advanced, as evidenced by the crucial computer game that holds the key to a destructive mystery connected to the departed Jamie. Much as I enjoyed the chase and the intrigue, I think it is fair to say that half the story would not exist had the heroine not been operating under a fatal misapprehension, after having been scared witless at an early stage of the adventure. Some of her actions defied logic, but it did not stop me enjoying the denouement and reading fervently on until the day when her error would eventually become apparent.
Pacing is sustained and fairly consistent after a bit of a slow start. The author expertly advances the narrative, juggling a vast supporting cast, and mostly hitting a plausible note in her many diversions. Characterization is convincing and the dialogue is realistic, if a tad cheesy, but on balance, this is a book I enjoyed reading and which kept me interested till the satisfying end.
With the action set in 1992, we become very aware of how much technology has advanced, as evidenced by the crucial computer game that holds the key to a destructive mystery connected to the departed Jamie. Much as I enjoyed the chase and the intrigue, I think it is fair to say that half the story would not exist had the heroine not been operating under a fatal misapprehension, after having been scared witless at an early stage of the adventure. Some of her actions defied logic, but it did not stop me enjoying the denouement and reading fervently on until the day when her error would eventually become apparent.
Pacing is sustained and fairly consistent after a bit of a slow start. The author expertly advances the narrative, juggling a vast supporting cast, and mostly hitting a plausible note in her many diversions. Characterization is convincing and the dialogue is realistic, if a tad cheesy, but on balance, this is a book I enjoyed reading and which kept me interested till the satisfying end.
Ludo is an eleven-year-old Bavarian boy who is kind and capable in small tasks, but considered by everyone to be not very bright and somewhat clumsy. One night, the family's old workhorse, his beloved Renti, breaks out of his stable and rans out in a snow storm. Ludo is alone, while his mother and father are away in the village down the valley, attending a sick relative, so he is the only one who can help. He must brave the elements to go after Renti and try and save the old horse from freezing to death.
The delightful tale that follows revolves around the twelve signs of the zodiac and the particular challenges that face boy and horse as they travel through each of the "houses". In this unorthodox interpretation, the personifications of some of the signs are decidedly nasty and it may make it slightly uncomfortable to read - if you happen to be born under one of these "bad" signs. However, in the best tradition of fairy tales, there is a strong moral undertow and, in order to make the point, there must be clearly-defined opposing forces of good and evil. |
This excellent children's story reads a lot like any of Lady Stewart's adult novels minus the romantic aspect. The storyline is very strong, and she never dumbs down the narrative, very subtly explaining the less common words, as needed. It is a tale of growing up, acquiring confidence and overcoming daunting obstacles through courage and devotion to an old friend. Ludo's courage is put to many tests and by his selfless actions, he acquires a new measure of self-esteem. I very much enjoyed reading it as an adult and it would be a really good choice to share with a child.